Corvo lifts Ottawa over Sabres in 2 OTs

BUFFALO -- Joseph Corvo scored with a bouncing 40-foot shot 4:58 into the second overtime, lifting the Ottawa Senators to a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals last night.

Ottawa overcame its own history -- winning the first two games of a series for the first time -- and fought off the disappointment of Daniel Briere's tying goal with 5.8 seconds left in regulation.

Daniel Alfredsson, Wade Redden, and Mike Fisher also scored for the Senators, who improved to 10-2 this postseason and moved within two wins of their first trip to the Stanley Cup finals. Ottawa pulled out the victory after spotting the Sabres a 2-0 lead seven minutes in.

The next two games of the best-of-seven series are in Ottawa tomorrow and Wednesday.

Jason Spezza had three assists, including setting up the winner. Spezza beat Chris Drury on a faceoff to the right of the Buffalo net and drew it back to Corvo. Stepping into the middle, Corvo blasted a knuckler that bounced once and skipped past Ryan Miller (28 saves).

The top-seeded Sabres continued their uncharacteristic stretch of inconsistent play following a 5-2 loss Thursday. And they lost last night by producing an unlikely first after going 40-0 in the regular season and 6-0 this postseason when holding a two-goal lead.

Thomas Vanek and Jochen Hecht also scored for the Sabres, who have never won a series when losing the first two games.